Knockdown platform



26, w. HERTEL JR KNOCKDOWN PLATFORM Filed Jan. 23, 1928 .INVE'NTOR /WA awake,

ATTQRNEYS V Patented .26, 1 930 i I i 5 vides convenient access to upper "batteries of 'm e qw element-T Application filed il'anuary 23, 19'as ;-sei a m 248,889.

This invention relates to knockdown platforms or runways for use 'in poultry cars and has for-its object to provide a platformof light weight but ample strength which propoultry cages, which can be very rapidly set .upand taken down and which can be stored Y tionfof brakes orbumping ofthe cars is apt in a small space whennot in user 1 -Poultry-cars are ordmarily prov ded wlth cages arranged .1Il tlers extending along the 'sidesand ends of the. car and. when poultry is beingshippedinthe cars, it is necessary for v attendantslto feed and water the poultry at regular'int'ervals during their traveL- 3T0 ob tain access to the top batteries ofcagesQ the 1 attendant must ordinarilystand on a' step, ladder, stool,-box=or!the like in; order to gain access totheuppermost cages; This is more orless dangerous. when; the cars are in mo tion or while the cars are being switched about in freight-yards; since sudden applicato'cause the attendant'to fall andsufier painful-,bruises, if not serious'injvur'yr The present invention alms to provide a simple and inexpensive knockdown platform which may be quickly set up between the cages to enable an" attendant to .feed and water th'eipoultry' in-the upper cages [orto loadand unload poultry from' the upper cages curely holding the platformin place and to provide interfittingj the connections between adjacentiplatformf section's' and supporting members which permit-assembly of the strucg V I welded, riveted orfliotherwiserigidly secured ture with" a minimum of labori With the above and other ob'ects in View;

the invention may be said to'comprise the structure as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings hereinafter described andp'articularly set forth in the appended claims, ,to-

gether with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the artto which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification between the steps and cross bar.

platform.

Fig. 3is a vertical section showing the platform mounted between the cageson opposite sides of a poultrycar; Fig. 4 is a section taken on. the line indie ated at 44in Fig. 2. 7 F I p 1 Fig; 5 'is'a detail view showing the. connec-' tion between a supporting crossbar and ad j oining floor. panels;

.' Fig.6 israfragmentary:side elevation of the crossbar to which the steps are 7 attached; 7

f Fig; 7 isa detail View showing the connec- I Referring to the accompanying drawlngs,

the knockdown platform? of the present invention is supportedjfrom the cages 'onthe' op- 'posite sides ofthe poultryxcar-.by means of supporting, cross bars 1 and air-end cross bar 20', which are formed'of: sheet steel and-are of'channel form with depending"side-fianges-- 2 and downturned end flanges lwhich; are spaced'f'rom the endsof the-flanges 2 to providexnotchesxt "at the end ofthe bar to hook over "the longitudinally extending frame members-5 extending along 'thetops of the. cagesof the lowermost row'at opposite sides of'the car',' theframefmembers 5 ofgthe cages forming the top andbottoindoorframe mem- F igure 1 is a top planiview of i {the assembled'xplatform. p 1

FigrZQ -isa side elevation of the assembled here of'the cages; i The spaces'between'successlve 'supporting cross barsll areibridged b'y floor panelsfi formed of wirefmesh secured inrectangular steel frames 7 formed of channel bars. The" opposite e'nds-Iofthelfioor on the;cross bars by spacingclips 8 ;which are togthfeunder, sides ofth'e sidebars oftheframfe' lyfrom the bottom of thefraine 7 and the free ends ofthe springiclips are adapted to be inserted through. rectangular openings 9 in p anelsj6 rest. upon the tops:ofthelsupporting cross-barsland are hel-diin \proper position v 7 adjacent. the opposite:endsthereof; ,gThe; '7 outer endsof the;olipsj8"ar,e offset downward- "platform of sufiicient length for one of the end cross bar 20 for reasons that will be apparent. In assembling the platform, a cross bar 1 isj-placed upon the frame members 5 above-the doorsof the lower cages at the end of the car, the end of a panel 6is placed on theend cross bar and pushed towardthe bar to. cause its clipsS to enter thefopemngs.

the desired. length of platform ,has been set up. The tiers of cagesbra'inanl extend from the, ends of the cal-[to the center doors and three panels will ordinarily prov de a the car.

To adequately support the forwardtend of the platform and to provide convenient means for mounting the platform, steps 10 securedto Lshaped'framemembers.11 form a step ladder which ,is attached to the foro a ward end of,,the platform. The frame members 11 are preferablyprovided on the lower ends thereof with anchoringpointsl 12 which ldig. intothe floor of the car and prevent slid- .ing movementof the step frame on the car floors -For,; detachably securing' the. step frame to :the end 'crossi bar .of the platform,

the frame members 1113.16 providedadjacent their upper. ends withbolts 13,. which have reduced threaded portions lseciir'ed into the frame membersandawith heads 15rwhicli are adaptedto enter: and lock in keyhole slots 16 formed in'the. .outer. side flange .of, the end cross bar20; The lengthof the enlarged portion's of'the bolts 13 between the heads 15 and reduced threaded portions lrliis-suflleient to accommodate the thickness of the 's'u porting bar flange so that the step frame may be "quickly'-" secured to thecross bar by inserting I 1 the bolt heads 15 through the'enla'rged portions ofth'e slots 16 and allowing the boltsto "drop :into thereduced portions of theslots.

After the p'latform has been assembled, it may be securelyflockedxagainst any endwise movement which might-disconnectflthe floor Zoo 'panels from the supporting cross-barsby means ofphunping cams l7 'of oval" shape which, are rotatably mounted upon front 1 portions of'the cages o'n opposite sides of 5;

the car and which are-adapted to be rotated into clamping engagement with the ends of the crossbar 20 to Whichthe stepladd'er is attached'to clamp the cross bar'tothe frame inember'so upon whichit is supported.

end of cages or when the car is to be loaded or unloaded, and when not in use, it may be stored in a very small space. All of the parts of the platform are exceedingly light and no labor other than that of putting the parts in place and slipping them into engagement one with the other is required in setting up the plat'form. i

7 Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described-,1 and the-"particular procedure set .forth,are,presented for purposes of explanation andillustration and that various modfio ions of.said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my inventlonas defined in the appended claims.

-WVh'atI claim is 1. A knockdown platform .7 structure :for poultry cars comprlsmg a series of cross supports in the. form .ofchannelpbars havlng 'fdownturnedend portions adapted to hook over portions of the cage structures on oppo-. site sides ofv the car, removable floorpanels bridging the sp'aces between .cross bars and restingflat opposite ends on said. cross bars,

said panels each comprisingua.rectangular steel. frame and a .wire mesh supported by said frame; spacing. clips attached...to. the side bars of the frame adjacent the endsthereof :and projecting.through openings in the liangesof the channel bars and a step ladder .detachablysecured to amend crossbar.

2. A knockdown "platform: structure for poultry cars comprising a series .ofcross supports in the form of channel .bars having downturncd end portions adapted to. hook on opposite sides'bf the car, removabletfloor panels bridging the spaces between cross bars and resting at opposite ends on' said cross bars, said panels each comprising a rectangula-r steel, frame and a wire mesh suplfli) over portion siof the cage structuresofmages portedby said frameyspacing clips attached to the side bars of the frame-adjacent the ends thereof and projecting through openings-in the flanges of the channel bars, c lamplng members CflII'lBd the cages and engageable witha cross bar for securing the platform against endwi'se movement5 and a step ladder detachably secured to one end of the platform. V A V V In testimony-whereof I affixmy signature? WILLIAM HERTEL, JR.

-Thesteps-lO asiwell as the panels 6" are preferably formed ofwire mesh in order that the structure I may be made as light as possie. "ble and yet possess the" necessary strength. The platform structure can be set upvery quickly at thetime of day when'it is desired f to feedand waterthe poultry in'the'upper llii 

